I went to view a case of 1963 Noval yesterday and was disappointed to find that that 10 of 12 had corks that had dropped. They look to have been cellared reasonably well. All of the bottles were all sealed with plastic caps (as opposed to foil or wax) and there was no seepage. I have noticed this before for some Croft 66 with plastic capsules but put this down to storage. I then went through my cellar and found some Sandeman 63 that had been sealed with a plastic capsule - again in some cases the corks had shrunk and dropped.

Assuming you mean those bulbous plastic capsules that are quite difficult to remove, I experienced this with Croft '63. However, I found that the plastic capsule gave such a good seal that the fill levels were into neck and the Port had aged normally.

I went to view a case of 1963 Noval yesterday and was disappointed to find that that 10 of 12 had corks that had dropped. They look to have been cellared reasonably well. All of the bottles were all sealed with plastic caps (as opposed to foil or wax) and there was no seepage. I have noticed this before for some Croft 66 with plastic capsules but put this down to storage. I then went through my cellar and found some Sandeman 63 that had been sealed with a plastic capsule - again in some cases the corks had shrunk and dropped.

Assuming you mean those bulbous plastic capsules that are quite difficult to remove

My experience is that it is the thin plastic capsules, rather than the bulbous ones, that are the principal culprit, and that the worst affected wine is the Croft '63.

Essentially, the problem is that the capsule works too well - the aging cork does not experience any evaporation from its topmost surface, becomes saturated and drops as it shrinks. However, the wine is not normally affected adversely, and the capsule continues to maintain an excellent seal - so best to view this as an opportunity to get bottles cheap, as no merchant can retail a bottle in that condition.

As far as getting the bulbous plastic capsules off is concerned, there is a quick and simple method that does not require Stanley knives and a risk of grievous personal injury..

Boil a kettle, and keeping it boiling, play the steam onto the capsule for about twenty seconds, rotating it as you do so. Then put the blunt side of a small kitchen knife blade against the base of the capsule and push upwards - the softened plastic capsule flicks off in one piece with very little effort.

I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly - W.S. Churchill